Shuttle changing mechanism



Oct. 23, 1951 E. A. BUTIN 2,572,107

SHUTTLE CHANGING MECHANISM Filed Fe b. 4, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 5 L'IW fave/2Z0? Oct. 23, 1951 BUTIN 1 SHUTTLE CHANGING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 4, 1949 v 7 9 a0 4 v v Oct. 23, 195] E. A. BUTIN SHUTTLE CHANGING MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Shet 5 Filed Feb. 4, 1949 m/Lis IQCH/LLE war/ E. A. BUTlN SHUTTLE CHANGING MECHANISM Oct. 23, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 EMILE IQCH/AL; $077M Qt 1.526.1 4. 1c.

Filed Feb. 4, 1949 Oct. 23, 195] E. A. BUTIN 7 SHUTTLE CHANGING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 4, 1949 s Sheets-Sheet 5 llzv eizto'z I Patented Oct. 23, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHUTTLE CHANGING MECHANISM Emile Achille Butin, Villeurbanne, France Application February 4, 1949, Serial No. 74,512 In France February 19, 1948 Claims. (01. 139-232) My improved feeding means is chiefly characterised by the fact that at the moment of the change, the full shuttle that is to be dropped into the box on the batten and that is fed by the holder or one of the holders containing the spare shuttles is brought into position by a pivoting cradle adapted to describe an arc of a circle of about 90.

According to a further object of the invention, the spare shuttles contained in the holder or holders are arranged sideways over one another, i. e. they lie over their side while their bottoms or shoes are directed towards the forward end of the loom so as to face the weaver. The turning over through 90 of the shuttles for positioning them brings them therefore into their normal position inside the shuttle box of the loom while their bottom or shoe registers with the lower ridge of the batten.

Another object of my invention applicable to the case of looms operating with a plurality of series of shuttles containing different wefts consists in the arrangement of the holders carrying the spare shuttles behind one another and in star formation along the radii of a circle having for its center the pivotal axis of the above mentioned feeding cradle.

According to a still further object of my invention, there is provided a distributor for each holder that allows the shuttles to drop one by one at the desired moment while they are prevented from resting on one another, a clearance being provided between two successive shuttles in order to prevent their weft threads from being clamped between two shuttles.

Accompanying diagrammatic drawings illus trate by way of example several embodiments of my invention incorporated in a loom provided with two series of shuttles and provided with an automatic system of shuttle change as described in my abovementioned prior copendlng specification.

In said drawings:

Fig. l is a general side view of a loom provided with a feed system according to my invention illustrated in the position corresponding to the dropping of a shuttle into the opening casing or box.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the mechanism as a whole, the two holders being empty.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the distributor blocks.

Fig. 4 is at a larger scale a detail showing of the shuttle distributing system as a cross-sectional view through line 4-4 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 5 is an internal view of one of the holders illustrated cross-sectionally through line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

. Fig. 6 is a plan view partly sectional through line 6--6 of Fig. 5.

Figs. '7 and 8 are two views corresponding respectively to Figs. 5 and 6 and showing the holder with its lower shuttle released after it has been held in a waiting position.

Figs. 9 and 10 are two further views similar to those of Figs. 5 and 6 at the moment where a shuttle is to assume its exit awaiting position.

Fig. 11 is again a view similar to Fig. 5 at the moment where the shuttle located above the dropped shuttle has sunk by one step in the holder.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a modification.

Fig. 13 illustrates a further modification.

The drawings correspond to the case of a loom with two shuttle strokes but obviously the same arrangement may be readily adapted to the case of a single shuttle-stroke or to the case of a shuttle with more than two shuttle strokes.

The two shuttle holders Ia and lb are rigidly secured to a suitable frame lcarried on one hand by the loom frame 5 and on the other by a stock or the like support anchored to the ground. These holders are located above and to the rear of the part 6 of the loom on which the box 3 adapted to open through its front replaces the conventional box on the batten.

The above-mentioned holders consist each of two open U-shaped channels ll (Fig. 2) the openings of which face one another.

These channels are each formed by two parallel blades 1. The shuttles are inserted in the cooperating channels that are deep enough for the shuttles to be positively guided and to bear against the channel walls through their upper and lower surfaces so that they may not pivot round their axis.

In each of the two channels of the holder la is located a selecting rod or spindle adapted to swivel freely around its axis between the bearings'9. I

The outer extensions of the two selecting rods 8 of the same holder are connected with one another through a rod Illa.

This system is connected through a rod l2a with a lever I 3a mounted loose on a shaft I4 carried by the holder frame.

A similar arrangement is provided for the second holder Ib and if required, for any further holder. The holder lb is provided to this purpose with a similar controlling system 8, I01), I2b, and [322.

To the upper end of the frame 5 of the loom is secured a carrier I5 inside which may rotate a shaft I6 controlled by the arrangement controlling the movement of the boxes and that is not illustrated. To said shaft is keyed a selector lever I'I adapted to rock with the shaft Ifiinsynchronism with the movement of the boxes and that is thus capable of registering either with the lever I 311 or with the lever I35. To said selec-' tor lever I7 is pivotally secured at I8 a projecting selector controlled by a cable 20 carried inside a yielding sheath 2I for which the lever I'I forms a stop. p

The selecting rods or spindles 8 of the holders Ia, Ib carry loose blocks 22, 22', 22" located in the channels II (Figs. 5-7-9). These blocks tend to pivot in the direction of the arrow 0: (Fig. 6) through the agency of individual springs 23v Their number is equal to the number minus one of the shuttles that may be contained in each holder. 7

These blocks are provided on their inner side facing the shuttle (Figs. 3 and 4) with an oblique groove 24. The blocks located at the same level and facing one another in the two cooperating channels II of each holder are spaced in a manner such that the shuttles 2525'25" rest by means of their tips 26 on the upper fiat surfaces 21 of said blocks when said solid upper surfaces register with said tips while there is al-- lowed a free passage for said tips that releases the shuttles when the outlet end of the groove 24 of said block lies in front of the shuttle tip.

Un er the lowermost block 22 is located a car rier blade 28 ri id with the selecting rod 8 (Fig. 4) of the c annel in the holder considered. A pro ection 29 is keyed to the same spindle 8 in register with the lower block 22. The holders Ia and I b and possibly t e third and fourth holders, if any, are located behind one another and their axial planes of s mmetry pass all through the axis of the s aft 3|. arms 32 are rigid with said shaft 3] These arms 32 form a cradle for the shuttle with two arms 33 that are mounted loose on said shaft and are connected with the arms 32 by springs 34 exert ing a traction on said arm 33. In their inoperative position, the plane of said arms 32 is located to the rear of the plane of the rear part of that holder (Ib in Fig. 2) that is located rearmost of the different holders. As to the arms 33 they are held in front of that holder Ia in Fig. i

2), that is located foremost, by reason of said arms 33 bearing through their ends against flooring 35 rigid with the frame 4 to which it is secured by the attaching means 36 so as to pro vide an upper sliding surface which is a part cylindrical surface the axis of which coincides with the axis of the shaft 3|.

The free end of each of the arms 33 includesa collapsible element 33 connected with said arms 33 through pivoting links 3! forming a deformable parallel link.

The flooring considered is provided with projections 38pivotally secured-to'it at 39. These projections are submitted to the action of springs and stops that are not illustrated and that hold them normally in vertical position while they are allowed to rock forwardly and to recede into contact with the flooring 35 formed by the angle irons.

The shaft 3| is carried in bearings 40 rigid with the frame 4 and is provided at one end with a crank 42 through which it may be controlled through the agency of a rod 43 (Fig. 1), of a lever 44 rocking round anv axis 45, a further rod and a lever 41 pivotally secured to a stud 48 and controlled in its turn by a cam 49 keyed to a shaft50.

In a first embodiment, two

, blocks 22, 22", 22"

The cable 20 is connected with the selector I9. Saidcable is'held inside a sheath 2| that abuts at one end against the selector lever I 'I and at the other end against a stationary stop 52. The cable is controlled by a releasing lever 53 pivotally secured to a stationary stud 54 and controlled in its turn by a cam 55 keyed to the above mentioned shaft 50.

This shaft 50 is that which starts rotating when the weft thread in the operating shuttle is exhausted and the automatic shuttle changing means, not illustrated in the drawing, is con sequently released, no description of said latter means being required here as it forms no part of the present invention.

The shuttles 2525'25" are held in the channels I I of the two holders as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, that is, they lie on their sides while their bottoms face the operator of the loom. They assume therefore a position shifted by with reference to their normal operating position. They rest by means of their tips 26 on the supper surfaces 21 of the corresponding and the vertical spacing of said blocks is such as to allow a certain clearance 55 between two successive shuttles whereby the weft threads 5! fed from the cops 58 through the side openings 59 in said shuttles may move freely inside said clearance;

The lowest shuttle 25 rests on the blade 28 carried by the spindle 8. The next lowest shuttle 25' rests on the upper surface 21 of the blocks 22, that 25" that comes next rests on the blocks 22 and so on. The axes of the blocks are all held in a direction registering with the channel axis and they cannot rock towards the left, that is, in the direction of the arrow at of Fig. 6,.under the action of their springs 23 by reasonof the engagement of the tips 26 of the shuttles inside the grooves 24 (Figs. 4, 5,. and 6), which prevents such a rocking movement,

During. the operation of the looms, members I! and I9 follow constantly the movements of the boxes and the selector I 9 is submitted at each change to a rising and sinking movement so as to come into register selectively with a lever I3a or I3b connected with the holder Ia or Ib correspondingto the box that is operative at the moment considered. I

This being understood and supposing members I! and I9 lie for instance in register with the lever I3a as disclosed in Fig. 2, nothing happens as long as the cop in the shuttle that reciprocate-s on the shed is not exhausted, The arrangement becomes operative only when exhausting conditions are revealed .or sensed by the automatic shuttle changing device of the loom. It is necessary at the moment of this exhausting of the cop thread to remove one of the full shuttles from theholder Ia and to transfer it into the'opening box 3 while the empty shuttle is removed into the auxiliary box 60.

The operation is as follows:

The shaft 50 starts rotating anticlockwise which provides first the engagement through the cam 55 of the lever 53 that rocks and draws in on the cable 28. The selector I9 is then carried along and rocks round its pivot I8 so as to urge forwardly the lever I3a in register with which it lies. The linkage IZa-I Ila causes then the selecting rods 8 of the holder Ia to rock in the direction of the arrow 11 (Fig. 6). The blade 28 consequently moves aside and enters the position illustrated in Figure 8 whereby the lower shuttle 25 is released (Figs. '7 and 8) and drops out.

Nothing else occurs inside the holder Ia because although it is released by the shuttle the block 22 cannot pivot in the direction of the arrow :0 under the action of its spring 23 because simultaneously the projection or stop 29 engages said block and prevents its rocking; if this were not the case, the next shuttle 25 would also be released and would drop before its time.

As soon as the released shuttle 25 has left the holder, the cam 55 ceases acting on the lever 53 whereby simultaneously the selector I9 ceases acting on the lever I3a. The selecting rods 8 of the holder I a rotate in the opposite direction and return into their original position (Figs. 9 and 10). The blade 28 in each channel returns in its normal position while the stop 29 recedes which allows the block 22 to pivot under the action of its spring 23 whereby its upper surface moves away from the tip of the shuttle 25 in contact with it. The shuttle 25' being thus released its tip engages the oblique groove 24 in said block 22 and as it is guided by the blades 1 defining the sides of the channels II it sinks on to the blade 28 while it returns during this sinkingmovement the block 22 into its original position by urging back the sloping surface 24' of the oblique groove 24 (Fig. 11). At the same time the next lowest block is released by the sinkingof the shuttle 25 and it rocks in its turn under the action of its spring( Fig. 11) which releases the next shuttle 25" that drops in its turn into the location precedingly occupied by the shuttle 25 while returning the block 22' into its original position. Thus all the shuttles sink in succession by one step. The lowest shuttle 25 that has been released as disclosed precedingly drops on to the flooring 35 and it is guided during its movement by the projections 38 that keep it in the position assumed by it in the holder, that is a position for which it lies on its side.

The shaft 50 continuing its rotary movement the cam 49 raises the lever 4! that, through the linkwork 46, 44, and 43, lowers the crank 42 and causes the shaft 3I to rotate through about one quarter of a revolution in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 2).

The arms 32 keyed to the shaft 3| follow said movement and urge forwardly the shuttle 25 that slides over the flooring 35 while producing a shifting of the collapsible projections 38 that pivot into contact wth the flooring. Before the shuttle leaves said flooring, it is clamped, so to speak, under the action of the spring 34 between the arms 32 and 33, the latter arms 33 being loosely mounted on the shaft 3I. The arms 33 are in their turn carried along and the whole system including the arms 32, the arms 33 and the shuttle 25 is carried along by the shaft 3I and rocks round same until the shuttle 25 appearing in the position of Fig. 1 is laid at the bottom of the opening box. Said box closes then and urges aside the ends 33 of the arm 33 that might hinder its closing movement.

The cam 49 continuing its rotary movement,

6, the lever 41 sinks and the batten returns forwardly. The arms 32 rise then and the arms 33 follow them under the action of the spring 34. The system returns thus into its original position and the arms 33 are stopped under way as they abut against the end of the flooring elements 35 while the arms 32 return completely into their rearmost position and tension the spring 34. The collapsible projections 38 also return into their starting position.

A modification of the means for positioning the shuttles is illustrated in Fig. 13 and it includes in place of each group of elements 32, 33, 33' a bent steel wire member I00 playing the part of a stirrup and held by a sleeve I68 secured to a supporting element such as 68 mounted loose on the shaft 3|. The different steel wire elements are secured in said sleeves I88 welded to the horizontal portion of the supporting element 68 and they are adjustably arranged in a plane perpendicular to said shaft.

On the other hand, a support I6! keyed to the shaft 3| is rigid with two lugs I62 that carry pusher members I83, each lug showing a slot I64 allowing an adjustment of the pusher member in a direction parallel to the shaft 3I.

It should be noted that the two above-disclosed adjusting means allow in all cases obtaining a correct positioning of the shuttle in the opening box 3.

Lastly, it should be mentioned that the rearward rocking of the two supporting elements 68 and I6I is limited by two stops I05, I86, that are suitably secured to the frame 4 of the holder;

the supporting element 68 isurged against thestop I66 by the spring 34. An adjustable stop III) carried by the frame IUI holds the two supports IIlI and 68 apart with the desired spacing between them.

Fig. 12 illustrates a modification for the means conveying the shuttle between the point at which it drops out of one of the holders until it is laid in the box 3 that is adapted to open forwardly, said laying of the shuttle beingperformed after it has turned through In this modification, the structure of the holders does not change and it retains the same system of blocks and the same control means through selector projection.

In the modification of Fig. 12, the shaft 3I that is controlled as previously through a crank 42 and a rod 43 carries rotatably two arms 62 rigid with one another; said arms are rigid with a crank 63 connected through a yielding connection such as a chain 64 with the selector lever II keyed to the shaft I6 controlled by the movement of the boxes. To the end of each arm 62,

is pivotally secured at 65 a projection or lever 66 provided with a bent extension 61 against which may bear a hoop 68' rigid with the shaft 3| and connected through a spring 69 with one of the arms 62 mounted loose on said shaft.

In this latter embodiment, the noses 62' of the arms 62 form with the pivoting projections 65 damping jaws adapted to receive directly the shuttle from the holder Ia or Ib under which they are located. Said clamping jaws are adapted to move in synchronism with the movement of the boxes and of the selector; they move together withsaid boxes and are always located underneath the holder corresponding to the operating shuttle. As a matter of fact, the length of the chain 64 is calculated in a manner such that when the selector lies in register with the lever I3a the clamping jaws may be in vertical alignment with the holder Ia. When the seasramv:

lector rocks with the shaft IE and comes into register with the lever l3b, the chain sinks and the clamping jaws recede so as to come underneath the holder lb.

When the shuttle reciprocating in the shed is sensed and found empty, the selector [9 becomes operative as disclosed with reference to the embodiments of Figs. 1 and 2, the lowest full shuttle in the holder is released and falls between the elements B2'-6E of the clamping jaws.

The shaft 3| is then driven into rotation as previous y disclosed. Its rotation carries along with it the hoop 58' rigid therewith. The hoop then urges forwards the extension 61 of the levers 66 that close towards the cooperatin noses 82' and clamp between the latter and themselves the dropped shuttle. The pivoting movement of the cradle system continues thus until the shuttle lies in the opening box of the loom; during this movement the chain 64 slackens.

The rearward movement of the shaft 31 and consequently of the hoop 68' returns the system into position through the agency of the spring 69.

Lastly, as obvious and as apparent from the preceding disclosure, my invention is by no means limited to the sole embodiments discosed hereinabove and it covers on the contrary all the modification thereof falling within the scope of accompanying claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a weaving loom of the type including a shuttle box, an automatic shuttle changing device and a general control mechanism, the combination of a rockable shaft arranged longitudinally of the loom, at least one stationary shuttle holder arranged radially of said shaft, a cradle including guiding arms adapted to rock in unison with said shaft under the action of the loom control mechanism and located underneath the holder, means controlled by the control mechanism for releasing at each operation of the shuttle changing device the lowermost shuttle in the holder for dropping same on to the cradle, means controlled by the control mechanism for rocking periodically said guiding arms for trans-- ferring any shuttle that has dropped on to the cradle into its operative position in the shuttle box of the loom.

2 In a weaving loom of the type including a shuttle box, an automatic shuttle changing device and a general control mechanism, a rockable shaft arranged longitudinally of the loom, at least one stationary shuttle holder arranged radially of said shaft and including two oppositely located radially directed guiding means adapted to hold in superposed relationship the tips of superposed shuttles lying with their bottoms facin the front of the loom, a cradle including guiding arms adapted to rock in unison with said shaft under the action of the loom control-mechanism and located underneath the holder, means controlled by the control mechanism for releasing at each operation of the shuttle changing device the lowermost shuttle in the holder for dropping same on to the cradle, means controlled by the control mechanism for rocking periodically said guiding arms for transferring any shuttle that has dropped on to the cradle into its operative position in the shuttle box of the loom.

.3. In a weaving loom including an automatic shuttle changing device, a loom controlling mechoontrolling said device and an operative shuttle box for receiving the shuttle at each end of the shuttle stroke, the combination of a rock.-

able shaft arranged longitudinally of the loom behind the location of and substantially at the level of the shuttle boxes in their rearmost positicn, a plurality of shuttle holders arranged radially of and above the shaft along different radii converging towards the axis of said shaft and including each two terminal aligned guiding means for the tips of the superposed shuttles, a cradle adapted to rock in unison with the shaft under the action of the loom controlling mechanism underneath the holder, means controlled by the loom controlling means for releasing at each operation of the shuttle changing device the lowermost shuttle in a selected holder for dropping same on to the cradle and means controlled immediately afterwards by the mechanism for rocking said cradleand shaft with the shuttle carried in the cradle and transferring thereby the shuttle from the cradle into the shuttle box,

4. In a weaving loom including an automatic shuttle changing device, a loom controlling mechanism controlling said device and an operative shuttle box for receiving the shuttle at each end of the shuttle stroke, the combination of a rockable shaft arranged longitudinally of the loom behind the location and substantially at the level of the shuttle boxes in their rearmost position, at least one shuttle holder arranged radially of the shaft and including two terminal guiding means and elements therein for holding the tips of shuttles in superposed formation with a clearance between the successive shuttles for allowing the weft thread in the latter to pass freely between the two shuttles considered, the shuttles being shifted by with reference to their normal operative position round their longitudinal axis a cradle adapted to rock in unison with the shaft under the action of the loom controlling.

mechanism underneath the holder, means controlled by the loom controlling means for releasing at each operation of the shuttle changing device the lowermost shuttle in a selected holder for dropping same on to the cradle and means controlled immediately afterwards by the mechanism for rocking said cradle and shaft with the shuttle carried in the cradle and transferring thereby the shuttle from the cradle into the shuttle box.

5. In a weaving loom including an automatic shuttle changing device, a loom controlling mechanism controlling said device and an operative shuttle box for receiving the shuttle at each end of the shuttle stroke, the combination of a rockable shaft arranged longitudinally of the loom H behind the location of and substantially at the level of the shuttle boxes in their rearmost position, a plurality of shuttle holders arranged radially of and above the shaft along different radii converging towards the axis of said shaft and including each two terminal aligned guiding means for the tips of the superposed shuttles, a cradle adapted to rock in unison with the shaft under the action of the loom controlling mechanism underneath the holder, a selector, a linkage corresponding to each shuttle holder, means whereby the selector is brought by the operation of the loom controlling mechanism into register with the linkage corresponding to the plurality of shuttle holders that is operative at the moment consider-ed, means controlled by the shuttle changing device for operatively engaging the selector with the linkage registering therewith at the moment of the operation of the shuttle changing device, means whereby the linkage provides for the dropping of the lowermost shuttle out of the corresponding holder, on to the cradle, means controlling'the making of the cradle with the shuttle carried thereon for shifting the shuttle from the cradle into its operative position in the shuttle box under the action of the general control mechanism.

6. In a weaving loom including an automatic shuttle changing device, a loom'controlling mechanism controlling said device and an operative shuttle box for receiving the shuttle at each end of the shuttle stroke, the combination of a rockable shaft arranged longitudinally of the loom behind the location of and substantially at the level of the shuttle boxes in their rearmost position, a plurality of shuttle holdersjarranged radially of and above the shaft along different radii converging towards the axis of said shaft and including each two terminal aligned guiding means for the tips of the superposed shuttles, a cradle adapted to rock in unison with the "shaft under the action of the loom controlling'mechanism underneath the holder, said cradle including two series of ,radial arms, the arms of one series being rigid with the cradle shaft, means for yieldingly connecting the second series of radial arms with the corresponding arms of the first series, a stationary open work flooring extending across the location of the ends of the said arms and over which said arms are adapted to shift a shuttle received from the holder, means controlled by the loom controlling means for re. leasing at each operation of the shuttle changing device the lowermost shuttle in a selected holder for dropping same on to the cradle and means controlled immediately afterwards by the mechanism for rocking said cradle and shaft with the shuttle carried in the cradle and transferring thereby the shuttle from the cradle into the shuttle box.

7. In a weaving loom including an automatic shuttle changing device, a loom controlling mechanism controlling said device and an operative shuttle box for receiving the shuttle at each end of the shuttle stroke, the combination of a rockable shaft arranged longitudinally of the loom behind the location of and substantially at the level of the shuttle boxes in their rearmost position, a plurality of shuttle holders arranged radially of and above the shaft along different radii converging towards the axis of said shaft and including each two terminal aligned guiding means for the tips of the superposed shuttles, a cradle adapted to rock in unison with the shaft under the action of the loom controlling mechanism underneath the holder, said cradle including a series of radial arms rotatably carried by the shaft, jaws pivotally secured to the ends of said arms and adapted to form therewith clamping means for a shuttle received from a holder, a hoop rigidly secured to the cradle shaft in a radial plane thereof and adapted to engage the pivoting jaws to urge same against the radial arms and yielding means connecting said hoop with said radial arms, means controlled by the loom controlling means for releasing at each operation of the shuttle changing device the lowermost shuttle in.a selected holder for dropping same on to the cradle and means controlled immediately afterwards by the mechanism for rocking said cradle and shaft with the shuttle carried in the cradle and transferring thereby the shuttle from the cradle into the shuttle box.

8. In a weaving loom including an automatic shuttle changing device, a loom controlling mechanism controlling said device and an operaa gro? tive shuttle box for receiving the shuttle at each end of the shuttle stroke, the combination of a rockable 'shart arranged longitudinally of the loom behind the location of and substantially at the level of the shuttle boxes in their rearmost position, a plurality of shuttle holders arranged radially of and above the shaft along different radii converging towards the axis of said shaft 'and including each two terminal aligned guiding means for the tips of the superposed shuttles, a

cradle adapted to rock in unison with the shaft under the action of the loom controlling mechanism underneath the holder, said cradle including yieldingly connected supporting frames carried by the cradle shaft, adjustable pusher members carried by thefirst frame and stirrup- .s'ha'ped wires carried by the other frame in front of'the different pusher members for forming "therewith a clamp for the shuttle dropping out 'of a holder on to the cradle, means controlled by the loom controlling means for releasing at each operation of the shuttle changing device the lowermost shuttle in a selected holderfor dropping same onto the cradle and means controlled immediately afterwards by the mechanism for rocking said cradle and shaft with the shuttle carried in the cradle and transferring thereby the shuttle from the cradle into the shuttle box.

9. In a weaving loom including an automatic shuttle changing device, a loom controlling mechanism controlling said device and an operative shuttle box for receiving the shuttle at each end of the shuttle stroke, the combination of a rockable shaft arranged longitudinally of the loom behind the location of and substantially at the level of the shuttle boxes in their rearmost position, at least one shuttle holder arranged radially of the shaft and including two terminal guiding means, a series of superposed blocks arranged in each terminal guiding means, and adapted to carry the shuttles in spaced superposition, a common spindle around which said blocks are pivotally secured, an oblique groove being provided in the vertical surface of each block facing the cooperating block in the other guiding means of the same holder, a spring urging each block when released of its shuttle into an angular position for which the tip of the shuttle normally resting on its upper surface engages its oblique groove and is adapted to drop on to the next lower block while returning the first block considered into its normal position against the action of its spring, a cradle adapted to rock in unison with the shaft underneath the holder, means controlled by the control mechanism for constraining at each operation of the shuttle changing device the rotary spindles of the corresponding holder to provide for the successive angular shifting of the blocks from bottom to top under the action of their springs and therewith the sinking of the different shuttles on to the lower block and for the dropping of the last shuttle out of the lowermost block on to the cradle, and means governed by the shuttle changing device controlling the rocking of said cradle with the shuttle carried thereon for transferring the shuttle from the cradle into the shuttle box in its normal angular position round its longitudinal axis with reference to a horizontal plane.

10. In a weaving loom including an automatic shuttle changing device, a loom controlling mechanism controlling said device and an operative shuttle box for receiving the shuttle at each end of the shuttle stroke, the combination of a 11 rockable shaft arranged longitudinally of the 10cm behind the; location of and 's'iibstantiany et the level of the; shiittl'e boxes their warmest position, at least the shuttle holder arranged radially of the shaft and including two terii'iihal guiding means, a series 0: superposed Blocks arranged in each terminal guiding" fiieaiis; and adapted to carry the shuttles in spaced superposition, a common spindle round which said blocks are pivotally secured; an oblique groove being provided in'the vertical sllr'face of each block facing the coo'peratifig block in the other guiding means of the same holder, at fspriiig urging each block when released of its shuttle into an angular position for which the tip of the shuttle normally resting on its upper siifiae engages the obliqiie groove and is adaptedto drop on to the hextjlower block while retiiihiri'g the first block considered iht'o: its normal position against the action of its spring, a cradle adapted to rock in unison with the shaft underneath the holder, a plate rigid with the spindle at the lowermost end thereof and adapted to prevent the dropping of the shuttle engaging said. block etthe lower end of its groove and means rigid. with the spindle register with the lowermost block to prevent rocking thereof under the action of its sprm g whenthe spindle and plate are shifted from their normal shuttle holding position, means controlled by the shuttle changing device for moving angnlarly the rotary spindles of the holder confeSPOhding to the operative shuttles and thus shitting the spindle plate aside and insuring the subsequent return of the spindle intoits normal. position for allowing the lowermost block to rock under the action of its spring, to provide for the snooessive angular shiftin ,Of the blocks from bottom to top under the action of their springs and therewith the sinkihg of the different shuttles on to the lower block and means goyerned by the shuttle changing device/ controlling the rocking of said cradle with the shuttle carried thereon for transferring the shuttle from the cradle into the shiittle box. I

EMILE ACHILLE BUTIN. No references cited. 

